Sermons from St. Francis

Sermon by Father Bob Wismer – May 3, 2026What if faith isn’t about having the right answers, but about being willing to be redirected?In this sermon, Father Bob Wismer uses the image of a GPS recalibrating after a wrong turn to describe the purpose of worship. Church, he suggests, is where we are reoriented. Prayer and reflection reset our perspective, helping us see that even life’s disruptions can become places where grace takes hold.Drawing on stories from his mother’s quiet wisdom and the early struggles of the apostles, Father Wismer challenges the idea that faith is something you master intellectually. It is something you live into. Not knowledge about God, but relationship with God.His message is direct. Don’t stand at a distance from what is good and beautiful. Enter it. Like a piano that sits untouched, a life of faith unused produces no sound. We are meant to become instruments, bringing peace, attention, and care into the world around us.Father Wismer calls us to live with expectation. To look for the presence of God in others. To build bridges where it would be easier to divide. And to practice love and forgiveness as deliberate, daily choices.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Stuart Bates — April 26, 2026The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a past event. It is the beginning of a different way of living.In this sermon, Father Stuart Bates explores how the risen life takes shape in ordinary people, focusing on the restoration of Peter. His failure was real. His denial was public. Yet it was not the end. Through forgiveness and grace, he is called forward, not back.This message reframes the Christian life as something lived, not just believed. Prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread become the steady practices that form a life anchored in resurrection.Even in seasons that feel dark, routine, or unexpectedly comfortable, believers are invited to keep “singing the song of the resurrection” — to remain aligned with a hope that does not depend on circumstances.Grounded in baptism and the Eucharist, and guided by the Good Shepherd, this is a life shaped by grace over time.The claim at the center is direct: the resurrection is not symbolic. It is the assurance that life, not death, has the final word.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father David Price — April 19, 2026In this sermon, Father David reflects on the quiet shift from confusion to clarity that comes through encountering the risen Christ. Drawing on the Road to Emmaus, he points to how easily Christ can go unrecognized until scripture is opened and bread is broken. The message confronts the “futile ways” that still shape modern life—status, control, and self-focus—and contrasts them with Peter’s call to a deeper, purified love. What follows is a direct invitation to look again at ordinary life and worship, and to recognize the presence of God where it is often missed.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Bob Wismer – April 12, 2026This episode presents a sermon on the search for direction and meaning in life. Drawing on the Artemis program and the spiritual awakening of Blaise Pascal, Father Wismer contrasts human technological progress with the deeper demands of faith.He examines the reliability we place in modern systems alongside the need for spiritual guidance, urging a shift toward service, humility, and engagement with others. The sermon argues that lasting joy is rooted in an awareness of the divine, even in the presence of uncertainty and fear. It closes with a direct challenge to live with intention, grounded in scripture and oriented toward building connection rather than isolation.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Stuart Bates — April 5, 2026In this sermon, Father Stuart Bates reflects on the resurrection of Jesus as the center of Christian hope. He acknowledges the reality of suffering and death, but frames the resurrection as a turning point that reshapes how both are understood.He distinguishes between a return to ordinary life and the new kind of life revealed in Christ, one that is not limited by the same conditions. The resurrection is presented as both a future promise and a present reality that begins to take shape now.Father Bates encourages a response that is practical and communal. Participation in the life of the Church, attention to others, and acts of self-giving are described as ways this new life becomes visible.The sermon presents the resurrection not only as an event to believe in, but as a pattern to live into, even in the midst of ongoing difficulty.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Bob Wismer — March 29, 2026In this sermon, Father Bob Wismer reflects on the tension at the heart of Passion Sunday, where the triumphal entry of Jesus stands alongside the reality of the crucifixion. He contrasts the expectations of victory with the path that Jesus actually takes.Drawing on the imagery of Roman power, he describes how public displays of force were meant to intimidate and control. Against this backdrop, Christ’s entry into Jerusalem appears deliberately restrained, pointing toward a different kind of authority.Father Wismer emphasizes how quickly public sentiment can shift, and how the same crowd that welcomes can also turn away. The crucifixion, in this context, reveals both the depth of human violence and the refusal of Christ to meet it in kind.The sermon concludes with a practical implication: to follow this pattern of mercy and restraint in daily life, even in a culture shaped by power, reaction, and self-interest.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father David Price — March 22, 2026In this sermon, Father David Price reflects on God’s power not simply to repair, but to bring new life out of what seems beyond recovery. Drawing on Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones and the raising of Lazarus, he presents both as moments where death is not the final word.He lingers on the tension in the Lazarus story, where Jesus shares in human grief while also acting with authority over it. These events are offered as signs meant to shift how we understand loss, limitation, and possibility.Father Price invites listeners to reconsider where they assume life has ended or cannot return. The focus is not on denial of hardship, but on the possibility of renewal within it.The sermon points toward the work of the Spirit as a quiet but real force that moves people through despair toward a restored sense of life and hope.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Rev. Katie Gould - March 15, 2026In this sermon, Rev. Katie Gould reflects on the gap between human perception and the way God sees. Drawing on the anointing of David and the healing of the man born blind, she shows how people tend to judge by appearance, status, or easy explanations rather than attending to what is deeper and more true.She challenges patterns of faith that rely on assumption, comfort, or quick judgment. Instead, she points toward a way of seeing that requires humility and a willingness to recognize one’s own limits.Rev. Gould frames spiritual sight as something received, not achieved. It emerges when individuals allow themselves to be changed rather than remaining fixed in familiar ways of thinking.The sermon calls for a shift in practice: to choose compassion over judgment and to engage others with openness rather than distance.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Stuart Bates — March 8, 2026In this sermon, Father Stuart Bates reflects on Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, traditionally known as Fotini. He contrasts the necessity of physical water with the “living water” Christ offers, pointing to a deeper source of life grounded in the Spirit.He focuses on Fotini’s honesty and transformation. By speaking truthfully about her life, she moves from isolation to purpose, becoming a witness to others.Father Bates connects this to the present, suggesting that faith begins not with self-improvement, but with a willingness to bring one’s real condition before God. The reliance on temporary satisfactions gives way to something more stable and sustaining.The sermon frames Lent as an opportunity for that encounter, a shift from self-reliance toward a life shaped by trust, clarity, and spiritual depth.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Mother Emily Hylden — March 12, 2026In this sermon, Mother Emily Hylden reflects on the tension between human effort and divine grace during Lent. She questions the motives behind religious discipline, noting how easily it can become a pursuit of self-justification or approval rather than genuine transformation.Drawing on the stories of Abraham and Nicodemus, she shifts the focus away from performance and toward receptivity. What matters is not flawless behavior, but a willingness to be changed.Mother Hylden emphasizes that justification is not earned. It is given. God works through human limitation, bringing life out of what appears empty or failed.The sermon offers a steady reassurance: the work of salvation does not depend on getting everything right, but on trusting a God who acts with mercy rather than condemnation.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Bishop Hector Monterroso — February 22, 2026In this sermon, Bishop Hector Monterroso draws on his experience of learning English to describe the role of discipline in the life of faith. Just as language becomes natural through repetition and practice, he suggests that scripture must be internalized until it shapes instinct and response.Reflecting on the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness, he presents the word of God as a steady guide in the face of pressures such as greed, power, and division. Faith, in this sense, is not abstract but formed through daily habits.Speaking to those preparing for confirmation, Bishop Monterroso encourages a clear sense of identity grounded in Christ rather than in shifting circumstances.The sermon emphasizes consistency. Through prayer, attention to scripture, and ongoing practice, believers are equipped to face the demands of their own wilderness experiences.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Mother Emily Hylden — February 15, 2026In this sermon, Mother Emily Hylden reflects on the difficulty of real change. Using the image of a child unwilling to let go of a toy, she describes how people often cling to familiar patterns of grief, anger, and hurt, even when they no longer serve them.Drawing on the Transfiguration, she presents a contrast between God’s revelation of glory and the human tendency to resist it. The problem is not that transformation is unavailable, but that it requires a willingness to release what feels known and controlled.Mother Hylden emphasizes that this surrender cannot be forced. It is an interior decision, one that involves risk and honesty about what we are holding onto.The sermon frames spiritual growth as an ongoing inner struggle. It calls listeners to remain attentive and open, trusting that letting go of old burdens can lead to a more grounded and renewed life.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠⁠

Sermon by Rev. Katie Gould — February 8, 2026In this sermon, Rev. Katie Gould addresses the gap between outward religious practice and genuine spiritual integrity. Drawing on Isaiah and the Gospels, she challenges forms of faith that rely on routine, performance, or cultural expectations.She calls listeners to move beyond surface-level worship toward a lived righteousness that takes seriously the needs of others. This includes confronting injustice and recognizing the suffering of others as inseparable from one’s own life.The sermon shifts the focus from charity to solidarity. Faith is not only expressed in private devotion, but in active participation in the well-being of the community.The message is direct: spiritual clarity is found not by turning inward, but by engaging the world with responsibility and care.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Stuart Bates — February 1, 2026In this sermon, Father Stuart Bates reflects on the difference between a successful life and the blessed life described in the Beatitudes. Drawing from the Sermon on the Mount, he presents Jesus’ teaching as a redefinition of what it means to live well.Rather than pursuing power, status, or recognition, the Beatitudes point toward humility, mercy, and dependence on God. Father Bates invites listeners to examine their own priorities and consider where their lives are aligned, or out of step, with these values.The sermon calls for a shift in direction. It emphasizes reliance on grace and a practical commitment to serving others as the foundation of a life shaped by Christ.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠

Sermon by Father Bob Wismer - January 25, 2026In this sermon from St. Francis Episcopal Church, Father Bob Wismer reflects on the theme of light in the season of Epiphany. Drawing on the Gospel of Matthew, he describes Christ as a light that reaches into places of uncertainty, fear, and spiritual blindness.He explores the meaning of repentance, not simply as regret, but as a real change in direction. Using the conversion of St. Paul as a reference point, he presents faith as a shift in how one sees and responds to the world.Throughout the sermon, Father Wismer grounds these ideas in lived experience, pointing to examples from daily life that reveal how change often begins in small, concrete ways.The message is direct: to live under God’s reign is not abstract. It is expressed in steady acts of attention, responsibility, and care that bring light into ordinary situations.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠⁠at this link.⁠⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠⁠

Sermon by Mother Emily Hylden - January 18, 2026In this sermon from St. Francis Episcopal Church, Mother Emily Hylden reflects on the opening chapters of the Gospel of John, drawing connections between its unfolding narrative, the seven days of creation, and the movement toward the resurrection.She highlights the “second and third days” of Jesus’ ministry, linking his baptism to the separation of waters in Genesis and the calling of the disciples to the emergence of light. Through these connections, she frames the Gospel as a story of new creation already underway.Centering on Jesus’ question, “What are you looking for?”, Mother Hylden invites listeners to consider their own place in that story. She points to Christ as the Lamb of God who enters into human struggle and brings light into it.The sermon closes with a clear challenge: to move beyond routine faith and begin living in a way that reflects the presence and glory of Christ in everyday life.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠at this link.⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠

Sermon by Father Stuart Bates - January 11, 2026In this sermon, Father Stuart Bates reflects on the meaning of Jesus’ baptism. He points to Christ’s entry into the waters of the Jordan as an act of humility, choosing to stand among ordinary people rather than apart from them. In doing so, Jesus identifies fully with human struggle and begins his public ministry.Father Bates contrasts John the Baptist’s call to repentance with the deeper meaning of Christian baptism. What begins as a sign of turning back becomes, in Christ, a passage into new life. Baptism is presented not only as a symbol, but as a participation in death and renewal, marking a shift in identity and purpose.The sermon concludes with a practical challenge. If baptism names us as belonging to God, then it also calls us to live accordingly through mercy, integrity, and a willingness to love sacrificially in daily life.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online ⁠at this link.⁠This podcast is a production of ⁠Houston Creative Media.⁠

Sermon by Father David Price — January 4, 2026In this sermon at St. Francis Episcopal Church, Father David Price reflects on the early life of Jesus and the movement from childhood into spiritual maturity. Focusing on the Gospel account of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple during Passover, he considers what it means to grow in wisdom and awareness of one’s calling.Using this moment, Father Price invites listeners to examine their own lives at the start of a new year, asking where growth, discipline, and deeper understanding may be needed. He also reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation, presenting Christ as the meeting point between the human and the divine.The sermon ultimately calls for a practical response: to pursue a life marked by spiritual clarity, strength, and a steady awareness of God’s presence in everyday experience.Find St. Francis Episcopal Church online at this link.This podcast is a production of Houston Creative Media.